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' (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

A. L. ALLEN. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS. No. 356,863 Patented Feb. 1, 1887.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. L. ALLEN;

APPARATUS FGR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS. No. 356,863. PatentediFeb. l, 1887. 2'1 5/. 5

awvamkoz UhllllED Eira'rns Pa l lEN'li (lesion.

AUGUSTUS L. ALLEN, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE 6F 6A3.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,868, dated February 1, 1887.

Application filed April 16, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I. AUGUSTUS L. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Poughl eepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and use ful improvements in Apparatus for the Mannfacture of Gas; and I hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accom- 1 panying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of a bench of five retorts embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of one of the lower four retorts. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the retort on the line as as, Fig. 2. Fig. i is a. front elevation showing the mouth-piece. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, also showing the mouthpiece of the four lower retorts. Fi 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the upper z.) carbureting-retort. Fig. 7 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 8 is a front, and Fig. 9 a.

side, elevation of the carbineting-retort, showing a hell on the under side of the mouth piece for connecting the lower retorts.

Like figures refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My present invention relates to certain int proveinents in the combination, setting, and fitting of horizontal retorts for the manufacture of gas for either heating or illuminating purposes, as the circumstances may require, and has for its obj ect such an arrangement and combination of the parts that without change or reorganization the works shall be adapted ,5 to use anthracite coal or coke, bituminous coal, oil and its products, or other carbonaceous matter, either separately or conjointly, in the manufacture of an illuminant, or anthracite coal or colce in the manufacture of water-gas or a simple fuel-gas, producing either alternately, as desired.

lhe apparatus is particularly designed to be employed in conjunction with the Allen- Harris or American hydrocarbon process, and

5 as far as possible to perfect the apparatus by which the same and other similar processes are carried out.

It is also especially adapted for use in connection with the system of vertical retorts described in Patent No. 8G2,909, August 5, 1884, granted to G. Harris and A. L. Allen, and in Patent No. 310,487, January 6, 1885, granted Serial No. 199,124. (No model.)

to A. L. Allen, which, or equivalent apparatus,

may be employed where it is desired to confine the work of the present apparatus to carbureting in manufacturing an illuminant.

.As the invention lies, broadly, in the combination of bituminouscoal retorts with a can buret-ing-retort, and in the adaptation of the fittings and settings to the purposes of the combinations, it is evident that any retorts which allow of working bituminous coals, oils, &c., and which can be utilized as carburetingretorts, when combined as herein specified, will fall within the scope of this invention, and inasmuch as the particular construction of the retorts themselves is not material, I have chosen, for purposes of illustration, those shown in former patents of Allen and Harris, as the best devices known to me. For instance, for the upper carburetiug-retorts I prefer the retort shown in patents to G. W. Harris, No. 112,598, March 14, 1871, and G. WV. Harris and A. L. Allen, No. 209,563, November 5, 1878, while for the lower or bituminouscoal retorts I prefer the retort shown in the patentof A. L. Allen and G. 7. Harris, No. 809,916, December 30, 1884; but Iwish it distinctly understood that I do not herein claim the construction of either said retorts, nor do I limit myself to such constructions because I see fit to use them for the purposes of illustration.

I will proceed to more specifically describe the invention, so as to enable others skilled in the art to which it uppertains to apply the same.

In the drawings, I indicates the brick-work of the furnace, within which the horizontal retorts are set, said furnace having the spyholes 2, the grate 3, and ash-pit i.

Within the furnace, preferably on each side of the grate or fire-chamber 3, I place steamdriers 5, the pipes of which may connect with the water-gas pipes,which lead to the retort-s, or may have independent branches leading to the retorts. These driers are brought into use when water-gas or fuelgas is to be made in the apparatus.

6 6 6 6 represent a series of horizontal retorts adapted for the employment of either the bituminous or anthracite coal, coke, or other matter (carbonaceous) which is used in the production of either fuel or illuminating o illuminating quality.

For purposes of illustration, the retorts in the series are shown as five (5) in number; but it is apparent that the combination is complete when the number is three (8)that is, two of 5 the lower or bituminouscoal retorts 6, with one carbureting-retort 7.

8 8 and 10 10 indicate the stand-pipes of the lower series of retorts, which, by means of connections 9 and 11 11, deliver into the lower a chamber of the carburetingretort, while the single stand-pipe 12, having a valve, 13, connects the upper chamber of the carburetingretort 7 with the main 14.

Before proceeding to describe the fittings,

5 &c., of the retorts more specifically, I will give the reason for combining the lower retorts, 6, with the carbureting-retort- 7, instead. of using a stand-pipe leading from each retort to the main, as now commonly practiced.

3 Where each retort has an independent standpipe, it is impossible, even with an extra upper chamber in the retort, to prevent a great portion of the most volatile and. best portions of the hydrocarbons in bituminous coal from passing off without being utilized, and .the object of combining the retorts and arranging them as specified is not only to insure the immediate and perfect saturation of the rapidly-volatilizing hydrocarbons during the destructive distillation of bituminous coals or other carbonaceous substance, but to more perfectly prevent the carbons from being carried off in the form of smoke, soot, and tar by subjecting them to longer contact with the permanent gases through increasing heats, thereby securing a more perfect chemical combination with all the gases.

I will now return to the description of the retorts and fittings. The retorts 6 are of the class having horizontal diaphragms, which divide the retorts into an ash-chamber, a, carbon-chambers b, and perfecting-chambers c, and are preferably of the construction described in patent to Allen and Harris (N 0. 309,916, hereinbefore referred to and disclaimed)that is to say, the diaphragm d between the ashchamber a and carbon-chamber b is perforated, as at d, and the diaphragm 6 between the carbon-chamber b and. the perfectingchamber c is provided at its rear end with port and valve f. while the mouthpiece has three lids or covers, a b 0, so that access may be had to any chamber without disturbing the others. There are also watergas pipes, one of which delivers into the ashchamber a and the other into the carbonchamber at the front.

The carbureting retort 7 is of the general character shown in former patent of Harris and Allen (No. 209, 563, hereinbefore referred to and disclaimed)that is to say, has a dia phragm. which divides it into an upper and a lower chamber, which chambers communicate at the rear so as to form a return-passage in the retort. As in the present invention oil and its products are used in this retort, its construction is varied by forming at or near the mouth of the lower chamber a transverse rib, elevation, or dam, h, to prevent the escapeof any fluid (oil, 8m.) which may at times accumulatein the lower chamber of said. retort 7.

The mouth-piece of the retort7 has the two independent lids or covers h It", and in addition to the hell or the spigot for the standpipe 12 has a second hell or hollow spigot, 15, on its under side for the connections from the lower retorts. This will be sufiicient if the combination is to be limited to three retorts; but where five (5) are employed, arranged as herein shown, the mouth-piece will require side bells or spigots, as shown at 16.

The several retorts 6 6 6 6 and 7 are set in series, as hereinbefore specified, and connected and combined by the pipes 8 9 10 11, so that all the lower retorts deliver into the front end of the chamber of the carburetingretort 7.

17 indicates the main water-gas supplypipe, which connects directly with any suitable source of apparatus for producing watergasas, for instance, a bench of vertical retorts (see patents to Harris and Allen, No. 302,909, and A. L. Allen, No. 310,487, hereinbefore referred to and disc1aimed) -and from said pipe 17 four branch pipes, 18, each pro vided with an index-valve, 19', lead to the respective retorts 6 6. Each of these water-gas pipes 18 branches or divides before reaching the retort it is to supply,'so that one branch delivers into the ash-chamber a and the other into the carbon'chamber b, as hereinbefore specified.

In addition to the branches 18, leading to the lower retorts, 6, are short branches 20, each with its index-valve 21, which lead from the main water-gas pipe 17 and deliver into the pipes 10 11, which lead to the carbureting; retort 7. 22 indicates oil-pipes which lead from any suitable source of supply and deliver into the water-gas pipes 20, so that the oil will be carried by the water-gas into the pipes 10 11, which 'lead to the carburetingretort 7, and will reach the retort in a vapor form, ready to combine with the gases from the retorts 6 6, &c. a

The retorts 6 6 have to be used sometimes as distillation-retorts only-as, for instance,

when they are charged with bituminous coal in the manufacture of illuminatinggaS-ahd at other times as converters only, as when they are charged with anthracite coal, coke,or equivalent material, as in'the manufacture of watergas, and it is essential, therefore, that what ILO nation, must be adapted for use alternately as distilling or converting retorts, as may be re quired of them.

The devices being of the general character hereinbefore specified, and combined and arranged to form an apparatus having the characteristics set forth, may be used to make either an illuminating or fuel gas at will from bituminous coal, oil and its products, or anthracite coal, coke, &c., in either of the following ways:

First. In case water-gas or fuel-gas only is desired, the carbon or middle chambers, b, of the several retorts 6 are filled with anthracite coal, coke. or other suitable substances, and both chambers of retort 7 tilled with like materlal. 'lhen steam, which has been previously superheated in the driers 5, is passed through the carbon-chambers Z) of the several retorts, and then through the return (both) chambers of the retort 7 and out through the single stand-pipe.

Secondly. If it is desired to change the fuelgas manufactured as above into the illuminatinggas by the use of oil or its products, then the proper percentage of oil is fed from oil pipes into branches 11, is vaporized, and passes through the return-chambers of retort '7, whet e it combines with the water or fuel gas and gives the desired illuminating properties.

Thirdly. The steps as recited above in the first method may be followed, and the chainbers of the retort 7 supplied with a rich bituminous coal or like carbonaceous matter for carbonizing the fuelgas.

Fourthly. The steps recited in the first and second methods may be followed, and the chambers of retort 7 supplied with bituminous coal or its equivalent; or, in other words, the superheated steam from driers 5 will be passed through anthracite coal, coke, or the equivalent thereof in the carbon-chambers ol'retorts 6, (to form water-gas,) then through a charge of bituminous coal or its equivalent in the chambers of retort '7, and with the fuel gas that enters retort 7 will be carried the oil vapors from oil-pipe, which will aid in the carburizing of the luelgas in retort i,whereby said gas is converted into an illuminant.

Fll'thly. The carbon-chambers b of retorts 6 and both chambers of retort 7 may be charged with bituminous coal or like rich carbonaceous coal, where it is desired to use only that class of material in the manufacture of an illuminating-gas.

Sixthly. 'When producing an illuminatinggas from the rich bituminous coals alone-as indicated in the preceding paragraph (fifth)- if the gas becomes poor in illuminating properties, as frequently happens toward the close of distillation, this can be readily corrected by admitting a small percentage of oil from oilpipe into pipe 2-2, so that its vapor will enter retort 7 with the gases from retort-s 6.

Seventhly. Where other means for producing the water or fuel gas are available, as in the case of a bench of vertical retorts, did, as hercinbel'ore referred to, the retorts may be charged with bituminous coal or its equivalent and the water or fuel gas from main pipe may be delivered by branch pipes to the retorts 6, pass thence by the pipes 8, 9, l0, and 11 to retort '7, if necessary a percentage of oil being admitted to the gases in pipes 22, as before specified, and the finished illuminatinggas will pass through standpipe 12 to the main 14:.

Finally, it will be evident to any person skilled in the art of manul'acturing gas that the character of the devices, the combinations into which they are brought, and the character of the fittings and settings by which the combination and eoaction of the several retorts is rendered possible result in a single apparatus or works which, without alteration or reorganization, can be employed to manufacture at will either a fuel or illuminating gas, and to utilize all or any of the wide range ot'gas-producing substances; and, so far as I am aware, there is no other gas apparatus or combination of retorts and fittings which will answer this purpose. It will also be noted that the desired quality or candle-power of the gas, when reduced by too much saturation of the materials with water-gas or other non-illuminant, can be restored so as to secure a more uniform quality of the gas made than can be obtained with one stand-pipe to each retort, or as returts are commonly set and combined.

In case of small arches in existing works, or for other reasons, the two lower retorts can be omitted, and the bench may be set with only the upper three retorts.

As the Allen-Harris-or the American hydrocarbon process and the kindred processes for the manufacture of heating and illuminating gases are well known in the art, it is unnecessary here to more full y describe the operation of the devices than has heretofore been done, as their capacity and utility will be perfectly apparent to all gas engineers and manu factu re rs.

I am aware that a decomposing or watergas retort has been connected with a series of superheating-retoris, the last of which delivcred into a coal or distilling retort, and that in such a bench an oil-pipe has been arranged to deliver into the connection between the water gas or decomposing retort and the first of the series of superheating-retorts, and do not herein claim the same, for the reason that with such a bench it would be impossible to manufacture a gas from coal and regulate its quality by final additions of water-gas and oil.

I am also aware that a steam superheater has been combined with distilling-retorts so as to deliver thereinto, said distilliug-retorts arranged to deliver into decomposing or watergas retorts, which latter deliver into a small oil-retort for carbureting the final product, and do not herein claim the same, as in such a V claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

bench or arrangement of devices it would be impossible to first form a watergas, then add oil thereto, and finally retort it in the presence of coal.

Furthermore, with the first-recited and disclaimed combination of retorts there would occur loss in illuminants from the deposit of carbon in the superheating-rctorts, and in the last-recited and disclaimed combination the gases from the distilling-retorts would be stripped of illuminants in the decomposing or water-gas retorts.

Having thus described the nature, advantages, and operation of my invention, What I 1. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas, the combination, with a carbureting-retort adapted for solid carbons-such as coaland provided with a stand-pipe, of a plurality of generating retorts, each of which is connected 1 directly with and delivers into the carbureting-retort, water-gas pipes which deliver into the passages which connect the last recited retorts with the carbureting-retort, and oilpipes which deliver into the water-gas pipes, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas, the combination, with a single carburetingretort, 7, adapted for solid carbonssuel1 as coaland provided with a standpipe, 12, of a series of four generating-retorts, 6 6, which are connected directly with and deliver into said carbureting-retort, water-gas pipes 18, which deliver into the series of retorts 6 6, water-gas pipes 20, which deliver into the passages which connect one set of retorts with the carburetingretort, and oilpipes 22, which deliver into the last rceited set of watergas pipes 20, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 13th day of April, 1886.

AUGUSTUS L. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. O. HILLS, G. ADDISON TALMAGE. 

